spell

/spɛl/
verb
  1. To write or name the letters of a word in the correct order.
    • She learned to spell 'cat' when she was four years old.
    • Can you spell your last name for me?
    • The teacher asked the class to spell 'rhythm' out loud.
  2. To be a sign or characteristic of something, often something bad.
    • His silence could spell trouble for the project.
    • The economic data spells a slowdown in growth.
    • Dark clouds spell rain for the afternoon.
  3. To take over someone's work for a short time to give them a rest.
    • I'll spell you at the wheel for a few hours.
    • Can you spell me on the night shift?
    • She spelled her colleague during lunch break.
noun
  1. A short period of time.
    • She sat quietly for a spell before speaking.
    • We had a dry spell that lasted three weeks.
    • After a brief spell of rain, the sun came out.
  2. Words or actions believed to have magical power.
    • The witch cast a spell on the prince.
    • He recited a spell to break the enchantment.
    • The story says a spell turned the frog into a prince.
  3. A state of being controlled or strongly influenced by something.
    • He was under the spell of her charm.
    • The music cast a spell over the audience.
    • She fell under the spell of the beautiful landscape.